After nine years of teaching science in Cameroon, I began looking for scholarship opportunities upon observing some of my high-achieving but low-income students getting married too early and others getting into hawking business after their GCE Advanced Level owing to insufficient funds to continue with education. 

 With the belief that service to humanity is the greatest job description and with a growing need for "Education for All",  I have dedicated my time, resources, and energy to visiting schools, gathering students & young people, and some teachers in my community and encouraging them to work relentlessly on their dreams. 

Due to my passion for humanity, I became part of Open Dreams where I now serve as the Program Coordinator for the West Region in Cameroon. In addition to this role, I also serve two other access organizations that are partners with Open Dreams; I serve as the Associate Director of Field Operations and Mentorship for the Urega Foundation, and a mentor for the Jumbam Family Foundation.

As a result of others' encouragement, I became self-motivated to pursue my education and hope to earn a PhD someday soon.  

When you spend time with like-minded individuals, like the Open Dreams team, dreams become real.

I was born to a low class income family in Baligham, a small village in Bamenda - Cameroon at a time when many children did not go beyond elementary education. My parents laid down their lives for me to go to secondary school, an ultimate sacrifice that made me know and value education at a very tender age. In secondary school, I would work all day in the garden on Saturdays to earn 500 FCFA (less than $1) to bridge the financial gap as my parents could not afford all my school needs. 

The case wasn’t different in the university. I did hawking, taught as a part time secondary school Mathematics teacher and as a private tutor alongside my studies. I thus developed skills in multitasking, effective planning and time management.

Motivated by the numerous challenges I faced with my education due to lack of sponsorship and the many opportunities I missed, I devoted my life to a different and better story for today’s youth.

Today, I instill in youth diverse knowledge, skills and values which they need to effectively respond to any life challenge, live a fulfilling life and make a positive difference in their service to mankind. I am achieving this by exposing them to different opportunities and mentoring them to make the best of these opportunities. 

It is in search of these opportunities and better mentoring skills that I found Open Dreams, a diverse and inclusive community where I have learned that if you cannot offer a drop of water to someone when you have a glass, you will not offer a glass of water to the person when you have an ocean. Open Dreams has broadened my horizons and made my impact to know no bounds.

Dr. Gilbert Miki is a School Health and Nutrition Specialist and an emerging Nutritional
Epidemiologist currently serving as a Research Fellow with the Research Consortium for School
Health and Nutrition based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). He is
a passionate advocate for education equity, health, and nutrition, with a distinguished career dedicated
to improving the lives of children and communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
With a focus on generating evidence-based solutions for School Health and Nutrition (SHN), Dr. Miki
combines academic expertise, practical experience, and a deep commitment to creating sustainable,
inclusive systems for health and education.
Dr. Miki contributes to global research and policy initiatives, fostering collaboration between key
stakeholders to address nutrition, diets, and food systems challenges. He is a Co-lead for the
Rockefeller Foundation's Big Bet Initiative for Planet-friendly School Meals, Co-Chair of the Diet
and Food Systems Community of Practice, Research Consortium for SHN; member of the Global
School Health and Nutrition Special Interest Group on School Feeding, UK Nutrition Society and a
Working Group Member of the Quality Assurance Framework on Nutrition in Africa.
Dr. Miki brings over a decade of experience working with global development agencies, including the
African Development Bank Project (GP-DERUDEP), GIZ, Plan International and USDA McGovern-
Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. Through these roles, he has spearheaded
transformative programs focused on school feeding, child development, and building resilient food
systems.
Miki holds a PhD in International and Rural Development (University of Reading, UK), Master's in
International Development (University of Sheffield, UK), Postgraduate Diploma in Development
Management and Governance (Pan African Institute for Development – West Africa, Cameroon) and
a Bachelor of Education in Geography (University of Buea, Cameroon). Dr. Miki is a proud recipient
of prestigious awards, including the Commonwealth Scholarship and Chevening Scholarship,
recognizing academic excellence and leadership potential.
As a member of the Open Dreams, Dr. Miki is dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration to
unlock the potential of young leaders. Drawing on their expertise in research, policy, and program
development, he strives to advance Open Dreams' mission of creating equitable opportunities and
empowering individuals to drive global change.
With a deep commitment to mentorship and sustainable impact, Dr. Miki envisions a world where
education and health act as catalysts for transformational development. He believes in leveraging
evidence-based strategies to address systemic challenges, ensuring that every child has access to
education, nutrition, and the tools needed to thrive in a changing world.

As a teen, I realized educating a child was the pride of most parents but overwhelmingly a burden for these same parents. As we grew older, our dreams of getting a world-class education and greatly impacting  our community through our seemingly impossible aspirations, gradually faded. We began to create boxes of limitations for ourselves. During the summer of 2015, together with a few other smart minds from schools in Bamenda, I was invited to the Open Dream Centre. That was the beginning of a new chapter.

At the centre our dreams were rekindled. We were groomed to access world-class education. A whole new way of perceiving our community opened up for us and we knew we could be change agents in our community. We benefited from a lot of resources, like laptops, books, college preparation lessons, and the list goes on. It sounds like a fairy tale and that’s exactly how it felt to us and our parents. With time, the good news started pouring – full-ride scholarships as the community grew. Indeed, Open Dreams Equalises Access to Educational Opportunities.

I continued as a home scholar. I studied Industrial Robotics at École Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique de Douala. Because of this community of a kind, I was outstanding in school. I love improving systems through healthy technology and in the past, I worked on a medical device – The Health Pad, for automatic health data collection, storage, and management. Through Open Dreams, I have participated in international programs, onsite and online, geared toward innovation, leadership, and social change. We are global at Open Dreams.

I am currently an Open Dreams Fellow and the Regional Coordinator of the Douala hub. As I reach out for quality education, I delight in mentoring, guiding, and helping scholars in their pursuit for quality education. Also, I lead and organize activities in the Douala, geared towards community impact like Aviva day, school outreaches, and community engagement.

Growing up in a community where we could barely afford food and education, with my mum struggling daily in raising us, facing difficulty to afford statutory fees, and didactic materials for our education, I had to spend most of my childhood on farms, working to raise money for feeding and our school needs. I saw girls of my age, street-selling to survive, enduring sexual assault just to afford basic needs such as education. At age 8, selected under Plan International’s sponsorship program, I was given Swiss foster parents who partially sponsored my primary education.

My mum had the opportunity to attend the teacher’s training college. This enabled her to pick up a teaching job with the Baptist while she did petite trade and businesses to back up her finance. Empowering herself, enabled the continuance of our education. Inspired by my background, I saw the need for community development, I saw the need of educating and empowering women and girls to gain access to education.

Just like Nelson Mandela said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can change the world. I have experienced this powerful weapon in the different opportunities I have been offered such as in the Young African Leadership program, The Haggai leadership Program, The Fulbright teaching program and much more. Such educational opportunities shaped my thinking and desire to commit myself in enabling others gain access to Education.

Growing up, I was passionate about problem solving and patterns, reason why physics, maths and computer science have always being my best subjects.

I did perform well in class but I always felt something was lacking, my bugging curiosity to explore my creativity always left me wanting.

I tried working on some projects in high school but friends and some teachers will discourage me. I found myself learning tech skills online most of the time. I have wanted an environment where i could develop my creativity and express my talents, but unfortunately I didn’t find any until I met Open Dreams.

While in University I was volunteering at CRTV Northwest where I anchored the program “Youth Forum” and most of the time I will have on the panel some brilliant talented youths, passionate about community development and international education. I was curious where they were coming from because such breed was rare to find. This were youths actively developing their talents and creating value in their communities, you guessed it right, most of them were from Open Dreams, that is how I was introduced to and joined open dreams.

After graduating from the higher teachers training college as a computer science teacher, I decided to launch an EduTech startup to inspire youths to explore and develop their creativity through Technology.

Open Dreams has been a valuable partner in reaching this goal.

I believe education when combined with technology could bring society out of bondage and bring about sustainable development.

And at Open Dreams we are making this happen.

In the realm of life's unexpected turns, there exists a profound truth: every disappointment has the potential to unveil a hidden blessing. This sentiment resonates deeply with my own journey, which took an unforeseen twist when I failed to secure a scholarship to study engineering. Little did I know that this disappointment would ultimately lead me to discover a new path—teaching—one that ignited a passion within me and set me on a transformative course.

My vision for the future is one where more girls break free from stereotypes and enthusiastically embrace careers in STEM fields. Leveraging my expertise as a computer science teacher and the various opportunities provided at Open Dreams, I am determined to empower girls to excel in the world of technology.

Based on my firsthand experience with Open Dreams, I have witnessed the transformative power of educational mentorship in changing lives. Looking ahead, I am excited to combine education, mentorship, and technology to shape the next generation of technologically savvy youth, who possess the passion, zeal, laser focus, and an aspiration to bring about positive change in their communities.
 

"The reward for work done is more work" - Jim Butcher  
I joined Open Dreams as a volunteer when I was barely 16 years old. Being taken aback by the brilliant nature of the scholars, I never saw myself as a scholarship recipient,  but my give-back spirit made me a social impact volunteer. At the age of 17, I was afforded the opportunity to study Business Management at the African Leadership College in Mauritius as a MasterCard Foundation scholar. I was the first member of my family to pursue College education abroad, after overcoming odds due to the Anglophone crisis. I was committed to gaining knowledge from the developed world, so as to contribute to change in my country. Every summer and Christmas break, you would find me in Cameroon actively participating in Open Dreams' activities.  I have been privileged to coordinate the Open Dreams Summer Academy in Bamenda and represent Open Dreams as a speaker during the Aviva Day for the years 2022 and 2023. This in essence, showed my unwavering commitment to addressing SDG 4- Education for all.

Even as a MasterCard Foundation scholar, I coordinated sessions on LinkedIn optimization, effective transitioning, and being a teaching assistant at school. These deeds and more made me receive the Social Impact award in December 2022. I was not present at the award ceremony,  as I was back home in Cameroon planning the Aviva Outreach program with the team. This award is evidence that I have a heart for my people and cannot let our background put us down. Hence a solution, the Date With Triumph-DWT venture, which seeks to enhance the professional development landscape in Cameroon. Thanks to Open Dreams, I was able to see an opportunity amidst the problem of unemployment and provided a solution to one of the root causes of unemployment which is lack of professionalism by the ever increasing workforce.

I started DWT under the Open Dreams canopy to ignite in like-minded individuals the ability to see problems as opportunities to bring forth sustainable solutions, in an effort to being catalysts of change. I envisage a Cameroon where every youth is zealous about making their dream a reality. This stems from identifying a cause, then building on your passion to birth a sustainable solution. It is about doing hard things.

Joining Open Dreams as a passionate volunteer, mentor, and an innovative facilitator is just a stitch in time, which evidently saves nine. 

I remember the first day I stepped into Open Dreams, a small but mighty office at Mile 2 Nkwen little did I know my journey with OD was going to transform my mindset, my worldview and outlook of life. With Open Dreams I could dream big, I could study on an international level, it wasn’t a selfish dream but a shared one.

Over the years, I have learnt to carry others along on this journey of shared dreams, from doing the little things, such as working with my team in Bamenda to organize the Aviva Day, Summer Academy, Graduate summit in a crisis Region and eventually the most difficult part, mentoring high achieving low-income students to harness opportunities, such a joy to see my OD-Babies as I called them win big.
 

With OD, I have learnt servant leadership, most times knowing when to take a step behind and letting the Pre-scholars evolve, discover their talent, and develop their skills. I am interested in creating a workable, volunteer-led sustainable system, where those who are two steps ahead, wherever they (I) go around the world, our efforts, hearts and spirit are entwined in supporting the next Generation interested in sharing this dream.

From the Heart of OD, Afungfege Evita

I lost my dad when I was only six. That changed everything for me. My hopes of receiving the best education and probably taking up higher education in the USA diminished. My father had promised me that, but he left us early. Fortunately for me, I had an uncle (George Town)who vouch to invest in me. He sent me to Sacred Heart College, one of the best secondary schools in Cameroon after my mother struggled to cover for my primary education. I’d sell bananas and groundnut in the streets of Yaoundé so as to bridge the gap that yawned between my education and finances. Whilst in secondary school, I’ll often spend time during the holidays working in my uncle’s farm so as to prepare the next academic year. My time with my uncle instilled a sense of leadership in me, which to me, is transforming people’s life without expecting anything in return. Equipped with this, and the mantra, if not me then who? I was lured, and immediately embraced the mission of Open Dreams after high school. I wanted to contribute to others education just like my uncle did for me. For the last seven years, I have been contributing to the organization’s mission of facilitating access to educational opportunities for low-income students. I handle little task however with a profound impact on the wellbeing of scholars.

My goal of investing with Open Dreams is to ensure that Cameroon has the quality human resources and ethical leaders she will need to emerge. Nonetheless, my actions aren’t limited only to Open Dreams. I have since invested my knowledge and skills with other clusters of NGOs in Cameroon to invest further in vulnerable communities and marginalized individuals.

I was born to business-oriented parents who, although not educated beyond elementary level, valued education. During the first decade of my existence, I saw my parents work tirelessly to grow their business and to also see us through school. We were fortunate to attend the best elementary school in our community and even a high-end secondary school. Many times our parents discussed plans to sponsor us abroad provided we earned good grades. Sad enough, this good life style that whispered a bright future was short-lived as one unfortunate Saturday afternoon my parents’ business centre went up in flames – our standard of living was reduced to ashes.  
I was only in Grade 9 at the time. Life became challenging and we could barely afford food and decent education. We had to drop out of the high-end schools, in which we were hitherto enrolled, to study at low-cost public run schools. Even at that, our parents faced difficulties affording statutory fees and didactic materials. We resorted to farming for survival. Our indefatigable mother of blessed memory😭 spent sleepless nights just to make sure we didn’t drop out of school completely. In addition to farming, our mum did all sorts of petty trading just to raise money.
As the first child in a family of 8, I grew up with the determination to achieve the educational dreams our parents had for us despite the odds. It has been a smooth ride at all! I struggled through university and upon graduation I got a job in an agro-company where I served as administrative assistant. This was an opportunity to support my parents and alleviate their financial burden by helping to sponsor my siblings. However, the quest to attain the educational heights my parents had wished to see us through and the aspiration of a better life forced me to quit this job after 5 years.
I got admission into a teacher training college and eventually became a teacher because I knew a teaching position will offer me the possibility to pursue my dreams.  Of course my continuous struggle to access educational opportunities and to impact the educational community in Cameroon have earned me multiple international awards and recognitions amongst which the Young African Leadership Initiative, the TransformELT Model Teacher award, the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement award, British Council Teacher of the Year award, the IELTS Morgan Terry Memorial award, the Betty Azar award, the Hornby Scholarship and much more. These achievements are a testament to my resilience.
I seek to inspire my learners and young people in my community never to give up because if I could make it with limited access to the right information, they too can make it. I do not just inspire young people through my story but I also help them to access the right information that will make their path to attaining their full potential less rocky. This explains why when I first came into contact with the Country Director of Open Dreams in 2019 during a capacity-building workshop where we were both resource persons and learned about Open Dreams’ vision, I clicked. I take delight not just in mentoring learners seeking access to educational opportunities but also in empowering teachers because I understand that teachers pioneer the future of generations. There is no way we can hope to inspire the next generations while sidelining those who are at the forefront of all civilizations.

I was born into a family where the English language, even Pidgin, was a luxury. My parents, uneducated as they were, along with most of my siblings, did not have English as part of their repertoire. From a young age, I recognized the significance of English as a language that could open doors to opportunities. A defining moment came when I lost the opportunity to sell our kola nuts to a trader who visited my hometown of Mbiame, in search of the sought-after cash crop, simply because none of my family could communicate in English. I still vividly recall the feeling of helplessness as we watched the trader vanish into the horizon, our kola nuts unsold due to language barrier. This constituted a substantial economic disadvantage, given that traders from distant areas were known to pay higher rates than local buyers. This experience marked a turning point for me, prompting me to set my first life goal: to learn English and use it effectively. At the tender age of eight, I understood the power of language. Driven by this ambition, I chose to become an English language teacher, aspiring to empower not only my family, but also my wider community.

 I came in contact with Open Dreams (OD) in November 2021 during the Instructional Technology training that OD organised in partnership with the U.S Embassy in Cameroon aimed at equipping secondary school teachers with technological pedagogical skills. This was a transformative encounter that completely altered the course of my life. It marked a significant turning point, leading me down a new path and fundamentally reshaping my career. I was utterly amazed by the exceptional manner in which the OD scholars conducted their presentations on technology. Their remarkable display of confidence, fluency in English, and adeptness in utilizing technological tools left me momentarily questioning whether I was still in Cameroon. The level of English mastery they exhibited was truly mind-blowing, leading me to ponder if I, as an English teacher, could achieve the same level of proficiency. During the training, I was introduced to U.S. exchange programs, which I subsequently applied for and was selected on my very first attempt. By the program's conclusion, one thing became abundantly clear: joining the Open Dreams Community was an urgent priority. I was privileged to join this community which embodies a collective pursuit of success, not merely as individuals, but as a unified people. Passion, resilience, determination, and perseverance are woven into the fabric of this community, where success is a way of life. Serving as a program facilitator at OD has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. The English language stands as a pivotal requirement for students to access quality education on a global scale. In my capacity as an English language facilitator, I am elated to contribute to Open Dreams' mission of equalizing access to quality education. Serving as a bridge, I connect bright, ambitious scholars to a world brimming with opportunities that have the power to transform not only their own lives but also the lives of those around them.

Felix Fomengia holds an MSc in Cybersecurity and Forensics at the University of Westminster. Felix is an innovative tech entrepreneur and innovator from Cameroon, passionate about solving problems around his community using ICT and inspiring and empowering the younger generation nationwide.

Amidst his numerous works in tech, He is the developer and founder of the GCE Study App, an innovative learning app for students in secondary and high schools in Cameroon. Since 2018, the app has been an ed-tech solution for students to self-study and prepare for their exams helping over 20,000 students. He launched the Felix Fomengia Foundation, a non-profit tech empowerment, to continue inspiring and empowering young people passionate about technology, inspiring them to build and create innovative solutions and change-makers in their communities.

I look forward to dedicating my experience and skills to achieving Open Dreams' goal of equalizing access to quality education. Working to better communicate and showcase the journeys of Open Dream scholars and alumus.

In a world where knowledge and skills flow freely like a river, educational opportunities play hide and seek, leaving in the shadows with uncertainty. Most of these discrepancies in opportunities are caused by forced migration and financial constraints. I am an internally displaced student in Yaoundé due to the Anglophone crisis which has been plaguing the English-speaking regions of Cameroon since 2016. According to ReliefWeb this crisis has claimed more than 4000 lives and caused the displacement of over 437,000 Cameroonians, 

As a victim of the crisis, I fled my hometown to attend high school in the city at 16 leaving my 4 siblings behind since my parents could not afford our education for all my family in the city. Post my high school graduation, the anglophone crisis intensified in my hometown forcing my entire family to follow me to Yaounde in search of shelter and security. I was unable to continue my education in college after high school because my family of seven which previously lived in a comfortable home was now sandwiched in a one-room house due to financial constraints. 

Hence, I dropped out of school and started part-time jobs at construction sites to support my parents, pay for our accommodation, and sponsor the education of my four siblings who have been out of school for four years without formal education. I also learned to repair electronics at Wizbrown Telecom to raise more revenue for my family.

Positively driven by my personal experience, I carry a burning motivation to explore the problems of limited access to education, energy poverty, and hunger, faced by displaced minorities. To reach out to these minorities in my community, I started volunteering at Open Dreams in December 2020, an NGO that equalizes educational opportunities for high-achieving, low-income students in Cameroon. Additionally, I founded a youth-led organization known as DeWise Foundation to support the social and economic empowerment of displaced populations where we have reached out to hundreds of IDPs.

Have I done enough to satisfy my passion for migrant rights and empowerment? Absolutely not!! I have not yet heard the stories of the other 437,000 IDPs, going through similar experiences as my family, nor have I led a diplomatic mission to a conflict zone to promote peace and access to education. I have yet to celebrate the golden jubilee of the DeWise Foundation and Open Dreams who are making strides to reduce inequalities in educational opportunities.

“If your child grows up in Kumba, there is a slim chance that he or she will succeed. Kumba is
not a place to raise a child.” I grew up with these thoughts. It is common to say that young
people in Kumba often find pleasure in idleness rather than purpose in education.
As the last child in a family of 4, I saw my three siblings drop out of high school without any
significant achievements. This wasn’t a result of my parents' financial challenges, but the
sociocultural context. Growing up, I have seen parents lament the future of their children in an
increasingly challenging economic society. This gave me the push to not give up on my dreams
to become the first in my family with an advanced-level certificate and to make my parents,
especially my mother, proud.
I left the toxic environment of Kumba at the age of 7 to live with my elder sister in Foumban, in
the West region of Cameroon. There, I noticed a clear contrast between students in Foumban and
those in Kumba. This kept me thinking of the different ways students in Kumba could resist
negative peer pressure and concentrate on their studies. At 15, I returned to Kumba and lived
with my mother, who struggled with her plantain business at the Kumba Market. I would go to
school in the morning, and after school hours, I would rush to the market to help her. On
weekends, I would volunteer at the Ocean City radio station as a presenter on the youth
program—Generation X. I found fulfillment in studying and helping my mother make means for
me and my two brothers. When I had my Advanced-Level certificate in 2008, my mother was the
happiest woman in the world. Her happiness motivated me to continue with my education.
After I had enrolled at the university, my dream changed from simply excelling at school to
making teaching and learning a lifestyle. A year later I got into the Higher Teachers’ Training
College-Yaounde, where I pursued my dream of becoming a teacher. Being a teacher has been
one of the most fulfilling achievements in my life. Through this profession, I am in constant
communication with students. I help improve students' literacy skills through book clubs and
read-aloud activities, enhancing their personal and professional growth. This explains my
motivation to join the Open Dreams community. The energy, passion, and talent in this
community are not only contagious but transformative.
As I continue on this path, I open my mind to many possibilities to grow my leadership skills in
education in order to reach out to as many students in low-resource areas as possible.

For some, education is a beacon of hope, yet for me, it often felt like a distant star—beautiful but seemingly out of reach.  Coming from a very poor background, I faced significant struggles to pursue my education. There were times when I was sent home from school, missing classes for months because my parents could not afford my tuition. Each time I returned, I felt the weight of lost opportunities pressing down on me, yet I was determined to keep pushing forward.

The journey became even more challenging when I lost my mother during my first year in college. Her passing left a void that was difficult to fill and added to the financial burden weighing on my family. Yet, in the face of these hardships, I found resilience. I took on multiple odd jobs, from tutoring to working in local businesses, not only to pay for my own college tuition but also to support my younger siblings. This experience taught me the value of hard work and the importance of education as a pathway to a better life.

Through sheer determination and the support from a Fulbright Scholarship, I graduated with a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Central Florida, achieving a perfect GPA. My academic journey, though fraught with challenges, became a testament to the transformative power of education. I have since dedicated my life to advocating for equal access to education, believing that every child deserves the opportunity to learn and thrive, regardless of their background.

Among my proudest accomplishments are my contributions to educational projects that empower teachers and students alike. I coordinated initiatives that secured grants to fund educational programs in Cameroon, helping to improve the learning environment for countless students. As a mentor and educator, I strive to inspire my students to pursue their dreams, just as I did.

Today, I am committed to paving the way for others in my community and beyond, ensuring that the barriers I faced are dismantled for future generations. My journey has fueled my passion for education equity, and I continue to advocate for policies that provide all children with the opportunity to succeed.

Quote: "Dreams may waver under life and challenges, but resilience, adaptability, and relentless pursuit can transform setbacks into stepping stones toward greater achievements" – Nteta Philip.

I dreamed of becoming a pilot, engineer, or physician throughout my childhood. These
aspirations stayed with me as I grew, fueling my determination to achieve them. After graduating from high school, I enrolled at the University of Yaoundé 1, earning an undergraduate degree in Physics Education and another in Physics. In Cameroon, medical and engineering training, then, was expensive for families like mine, and there have never been opportunities for training in aviation. Besides, limited spots were available in the existing programs, and admission often involved corruption. Given these circumstances, I became a teacher by fate and continued my career in this field because it offered
opportunities to inspire learners and to pursue my dreams and aspirations. My passion for leadership, which began in high school, continued to grow while I taught and promoted various initiatives through school clubs and organizations, including the Local Youth Corner.
Inspired by my engagement in STEM clubs and a desire to keep progressing, I enrolled in an MSc
in Environmental Engineering jointly offered by the National Advanced School of Public Works in
Yaoundé, Cameroon, and the University of Padova, Italy. While progressing through the program and teaching simultaneously, I participated in the Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) program at Appalachian State University, USA, in 2015. This opportunity enabled me to establish new connections with university faculty members and educators from various countries. As a result, I participated in the International High School Teacher program at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2018. The programs helped me integrate into international networks and opened doors to various collaboration, exchange, and funding opportunities.

Inspired by my experience in the TEA program, I initiated the creation of the
Cameroon Fulbright TEA Alumni Association in 2017, and I was elected as its pioneer president.
During my tenure, I established the foundation for the association to achieve non-profit status.
This designation allowed us to manage various projects sponsored by the U.S. government and to form partnerships with organizations like Open Dreams, where I have been volunteering as a lead mentor since then. Inspired by insights from these projects and my involvement with the organization, I applied for and was awarded the Fulbright scholarship to pursue an MSc in Environmental and Resource Management at
Arizona State University, U.S.A.

My participation in the Fulbright program has equipped me with the competencies needed to tackle both current and future challenges identified through our projects. This experience has motivated me to continue guiding graduates in their pursuit of opportunities at top-tier, world-class universities through Open Dreams.

Life took a transformative turn in 2022 when I came into contact with Open Dreams. At the time, I was searching  for direction, for community, and for a deeper way to contribute to the world around me. I didn’t know then that this single encounter would become a powerful catalyst, igniting a renewed sense of purpose and possibility in my life. Open Dreams gave me more than an opportunity, it gave me a platform, a voice, and a family of like-minded changemakers.

As a Program Facilitator, I have had the honor of walking alongside hundreds of brilliant, determined young people from across Cameroon and beyond. I design and lead youth development workshops, academic mentorship programs, and training sessions on leadership, career planning, and scholarship navigation. I offer not only tools and strategies, but also a listening ear and an open heart  because I know from personal experience how vital that support can be.

My journey has always been deeply rooted in empowerment  especially for women and youth. I am the founder of African Industrious Ladies, a platform through which I mentor young women from broken or marginalized backgrounds, helping them rediscover their worth and walk confidently into their future. I also lead Youth for Peace and Development (YPD), an organization dedicated to transforming communities through peacebuilding, development, and leadership training. At the heart of both organizations is a simple but profound belief: when young people, especially girls and women, are empowered , societies flourish.

Beyond grassroots work, my academic path mirrors my passion. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Journalism and Conflict Resolution at the University of Derby, sponsored by the Commonwealth Scholarship. My research explores multilingual mediation practices in conflict reporting  a topic closely tied to the lived realities of Cameroon and many multicultural, post-conflict societies. I believe in the transformative power of language, not only as a tool of communication but as a bridge to peace.

Through every stage of my journey , from the classrooms of Cameroon to national conferences on youth and peace, from ESL instruction to cultural advocacy with the Toghu Association, I have remained guided by a clear mission: to empower, educate, and elevate.

Open Dreams has played an integral role in this mission. It has been both a springboard and a compass, sharpening my vision and expanding my reach. I am deeply committed to giving back, to lighting the way for others as it was once lit for me.

In all I do, I strive to embody the values of resilience, purpose, and service  and to remind every young person I meet that no dream is too big when you are seen, supported, and believed in.

Dr. Etienne Ngeh is a dedicated healthcare professional, educator, and researcher with extensive experience in physiotherapy and public health. As a Senior Programme Facilitator at Open Dreams, he brings a wealth of expertise shaped by over a decade of service in physiotherapy education, clinical practice, and health promotion.

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Dr. Ngeh’s journey began with a BSc. in Physiotherapy from St. Louis University, Cameroon, where he graduated with the support of a partial scholarship. Following his graduation, he embarked on a dual career as an instructor and clinical/community physiotherapist in Bamenda, contributing significantly to the training of over 250 physiotherapy students at St. Louis University since 2009.

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He pursued an MSc. in Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation at the University of Chester, UK, supported by a partial scholarship. Upon his return to Cameroon in 2017, Dr. Ngeh assumed leadership roles as Head of the Physiotherapy Department at St. Louis University and Head of Physiotherapy Services at Regional Hospital Bamenda. In these positions, he focused on enhancing service quality, strengthening the workforce, and advancing scientific research among undergraduate biomedical students.

Driven by a belief in evidence-based health education, Dr. Ngeh founded the Research Organization for Health Education and Rehabilitation-Cameroon (ROHER-CAM). This nonprofit organization addresses the burden of non-communicable diseases by promoting rehabilitative services and delivering health education informed by local data. Through community outreach, radio programmes, and targeted patient education, ROHER-CAM has become a vital resource for health promotion in Cameroon.

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Dr. Ngeh’s leadership extended to the African Rehabilitation Network (ARN), which he founded at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. ARN has become a collaborative platform for rehabilitation professionals across Africa, offering guidance documents, webinars, and other resources to strengthen workforce capacity in the region.

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As research fellow at Sheffield Hallam University, Dr. Ngeh’s research focuses on physiotherapy-led interventions for individuals at risk of cardiovascular diseases in Cameroon. His work aims to develop evidence-based strategies to build the capacity of the physiotherapy workforce and improve patient outcomes in Cameroon and beyond through his strong networking.

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Through Open Dreams, Dr. Ngeh leverages his academic, clinical, and organizational leadership experience to inspire and mentor young scholars, promote health equity, and advocate for policy changes informed by evidence-based research. His unwavering commitment to education, innovation, and collaboration makes him a transformative leader in healthcare and an invaluable asset to the Open Dreams mission.

As someone who benefited from the poor and needy but intelligent students scholarship by the PEA in secondary school, I found Open Dreams to be exactly where I belonged. 

Their mission of creating equal access to education, especially to HALI Students spoke directly to my heart.

I'm currently pursuing my Master's degree in Data Science while serving as a Women Techmakers Ambassador. My love for building communities started early - I've organized and spoken at events at the Google Developer Groups in Bamenda, Bambili, and also the Google Developer Student Club, now GDG on Campus at the University of Bamenda.

At MboaLab Biotechnology Laboratory, I went from being an intern to becoming an Outreachy mentor. The highlight of this journey was being featured as [Outreachy's Mentor Spotlight] -A recognition that meant the world to me because mentoring young women in tech has become such an important part of who I am.

At Open Dreams, I get to combine my design skills with my passion for education. I create the designs for our podcast series, design our annual ànd event reports, and put together our Scholar of the Month magazines.  I also manage our Giving Friday fundraising campaign, which helps us support more students at Open Dreams.

I've spoken at various tech events across Cameroon, always with the same message: that everyone deserves a chance to succeed, regardless of their background. Open Dreams gives me the perfect platform to live out this belief every day.

Whether I'm mentoring others, designing materials that tell our scholars' stories, or organizing fundraising efforts, everything I do connects back to one simple truth - I want to help create the same opportunities for others that changed my life.

Growing up, I have always had an unwavering passion for technology. This passion led me to engage in developing a platform aimed at equalizing and digitizing education in Cameroon and across Africa. Coming from a humble background, my parents could barely afford my school fees and those of my younger brothers, especially during the political unrest which erupted in our region of origin in 2018. My education was interrupted for two years, yet my parents consistently emphasized the importance of investing in education and leveraging technology to reach out to impoverished and affected communities. In 2019, over 80% of schools in my region closed due to the crisis, denying thousands of students, including myself, access to education.

Facing numerous disruptions in my own education, and as a young tech enthusiast passionate about promoting equal access to education, I recognized the urgent need for action. Consequently, I co-founded and developed Skolarr, which has become one of Cameroon's most successful educational technology platforms, currently serving over 15,000 students.

Through Skolarr, we provide a platform that enables students from both the English and French subsystems of education to study from the comfort of their homes. This is achieved through access to study notes and past examination questions with solutions from national exam boards. Furthermore, our machine learning algorithm allows students to take a final test to ensure their understanding of the subject matter. By partnering with MTN Cameroon Foundation, we are working towards making education more accessible to students in even the smallest localities and war-affected communities. These collaborations aim to bridge the existing inequality gap in Cameroonian education. As an OD scholar, Open Dreams has been our powerhouse supporting this vision, as we source talented scholars from the summer academy program year after year to join our team, contributing to our vision of serving over 1,000,000 children by 2035.

Clement Ngosong is a passionate educator, learning designer, and youth development advocate from Cameroon. Having grown up in a community where access to quality education was limited, Clement experienced firsthand the transformative power of mentorship and opportunity. His journey took a pivotal turn when he became a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at Ashesi University, where he studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering while actively supporting others to access educational opportunities.

Over the past few years, Clement has worked across Africa to design learning experiences, support youth-led initiatives, and lead skills development programs that empower young people to thrive in the 21st century. He is the Founder of Impact Axis, an organization focused on building soft skills, digital skills, and leadership capacity among youth through experiential learning. Through this work, he has supported over 350 young Cameroonians and facilitated partnerships that bridge education and opportunity.

Clement also serves as a youth consultant with NiaDelta, where he helps organizations align culture, leadership, and learning through programs rooted in values and behavioral change. He has co-authored winning proposals that have secured multi-million-dollar funding, facilitated workshops for university students and professionals, and represented youth voices in global forums including the ECOSOC Youth Forum at the United Nations.

His work is deeply rooted in the belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. As someone who benefited from timely mentorship and support, Clement is committed to paying it forward by opening doors for others.

I am an Emerging Scientist in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, keen on infectious disease research, transmission dynamics, and immune responses. My goal is to contribute to addressing key health challenges pertaining to infectious diseases in Africa. I have a strong interest in Public Health especially involving local communities and health implementation strategist for infectious disease prevention and control.

I was a good arts student who chose to take the science path. My interest in health came from the fact that I am a survivor of Meningitis with no side effects. That kept me fascinated about science from a very tender age. I was always sick as a child with multiple illnesses from 3 to 5 years old. After surviving this rare disease, I have never been hospitalized again, which makes me wonder how I survived and why I have never been sick again.

The challenge of not having a mentor or guide on my educational journey motivated me to become a guide to other students ceasing every opportunity to help them avoid similar mistakes. I was on this mission when I learned about Open Dreams and later joined the community in 2021.

Open Dreams to me is the community I needed but didn’t have, and seeing what they do, I decided I was going to be part of the great story that will be told by hundreds of thousands of professionals around the world. I also intend to lead community health initiatives in Africa to help prevent and control infectious diseases in local communities where access to health care and information is limited.

I am a Mechanical Engineering student at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), with a passion for innovation, education, and community impact. I believe in living life to the fullest by pursuing my diverse interests and using them to create meaningful change.

As the Coordinator of the Online Open Dreams Summer Academy(Project Moon) , launched in 2024, I facilitate educational and mentorship opportunities for students across Cameroon and beyond. Through this platform, I aim to empower young scholars by helping them develop essential college preparation tools, leadership capacity, and social skills—equipping them for success in higher education and life.

My journey with Open Dreams played a pivotal role in helping me realize my dream of studying abroad. Today, I am committed to giving back by mentoring others and creating supportive, inclusive spaces where students can thrive and reach their full potential.

​Harmony Ngafeeson is not just a man—he is a Christ-man, a passionate lover of humanity, and a multi-gifted transformational leader. As a speaker, author, marriage counselor, and entrepreneur, he is deeply committed to making God visible by transforming lives, communities, and nations.
He is the Founder and Presiding Apostle of The Christman Global Network and serves as Lead Pastor of Kingdom Embassy Church in Bafoussam, Cameroon. Driven by a divine burden to manifest God, Harmony is raising a new breed of Christ-men, God-men, and Spirit-men—whose lives radiate the life, nature, and power of Christ.

Harmony serves as Chief Programs Officer of Lead Missions International, a leadership development organization advancing values-based servant leadership across Africa and the globe.
He is also the Programs Director of The Congress, a global gathering of Kingdom influencers that has drawn over 15,000 attendees in a single seating.
In 2025, he was appointed International Director of Missions for the Kingdom Leadership Network, an organization dedicated to raising global leaders across all spheres of life for national transformation.